Electrically heated drier



Dec. 2, 1952 P. GELDHOF El AL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIER Filed May 4,1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1952 P. E. GELDHOF Er 2,619,734

ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIER Filed May 4. 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 2,1952 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIER Filed May 4, 1949 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 2, 1952 ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIER PeterEduard Geldhof and Harold E. Morrison,

St. Joseph, Mich, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation ofNew York Application May i, 1949, Serial No. 91,353

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrically-heated drier, and moreparticularly, to a small drier of the type where clothes are tumbled ina rotating drum which is provided with heated air by means of anelectric element mounted within the casin of the drier.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel means forheatin air and circulating it through the drum of a drier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel control circuitfor a drier featuring improved means for coordinating the starting andstopping of the drum, the circulation of air through the drum, theenergization of the heating element and the control of the temperatureof the air in the drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means forregulating the relative quantities of fresh air and of recirculated airthat is circulated through the drum.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a drier, novelmeans for heating air whereby the articles in the drier are heateddirectly from the electric element by radiant heat emitted therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide novel means forshielding the clothes in the drier from the radiant heat emmited fromthe electric heating element when the drum is stopped and the clothesare in a stationary position therein.

According to the general features of this invention, there is provided adrum mounted in a boxlike casing for rotation about a substantiallyhorizontal axis. Air is circulated through the drum by means of a blowerthat draws air out of the drum through an opening in the back wallthereof and redirects a portion of the withdrawn air back into the drumwhile expelling the other portion of the air to the atmosphere. The aircurrents set up by the blower in the drum also cause fresh air to bedrawn into the casing through inlet louvers, then over an electricheating element and finally into an opening in the rear wall of the drumfor circulation over the clothes being dried therein and finally forwithdrawal from the drum by means of the blower. The electric coils areso located that radiant heat therefrom is directed into the drum fordirect drying of the clothes therein.

A special feature of this invention is the provision of a rotatableshield that is arranged for automatic movement into a position betweenthe drum and the heating coil when the drum is stopped, thus preventingoverheating and possible scorching of the clothes in the drum.

Other and further features, objects and advantages of the presentinvention will be obvious to one skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a drier constructed in accordancewith the teachings of the present invention with part of the case brokenaway to disclose the construction;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the drier of Figure 1 taken onthe longitudinal axis of the drier;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view looking at the rear of the drumand taken on line IIIIII of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the right-hand portion ofthe machine illustrated in Figure 3 with parts of the casing broken awayto more clearly illustrate the heating coil and its mounting;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line VVof Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line VIVI of Figure 1showing the shield member featured in this invention in a revolvedposition in dotted line;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line VII-VIIof Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on lineVIIIVIlI of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View on line IXIX ofFigure 2;

Figure 10 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit; and

Figure 11 is an isometric view of a clothes drier embodying the novelfeatures of the present invention.

A drier embodying the teachings of the present invention is shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 and includes a casing it] having a front wall H, arear wall 52, side walls l3 and I4, a top panel l5, and a base or bottompanel it. These wall members may be secured together or integrallyformed and may conveniently have rounded marginal edges with the portionof the casing between the top panel and the front wall being slanted toprovide an inclined surface IT.

The base it is provided with a marginal skirt portion it which may besecured as by welding to the adjacent side, front and end wall panels. Aplurality of foot members [9, having threaded shanks, are engaged in thebottom wall I6 for the purpose of adjustably supporting the drier in alevel position.

The front wall H has a centrally located opening 29 defined by a flange2! which extends around the opening and is bent at its inner end todefine a shoulder portion 22 and a second flange 23. A door assembly 25(Figure 2) is mounted in the opening in the Wall H and comprises a frontwall panel 26 and a rear wall 2? which are secured together and arespaced apart, with the front wall 25 flush, in its closed position, withthe front wall H of the casing. The door has a side wall portion 29 andan offset shoulder 36 which cooperate to define a groove 3| in which isdisposed a resilient ring 33. When the door is in its closed position,the ring 33 is in abutting, sealing contact with that portion of thecasing between the shoulder 22 and the wall portion 23.

The door is mounted on two spaced apart, concealed hinge assemblies 35(Figure 9). Each hinge assembly comprises a hook-shaped plate '36secured to the inside of the door 25 and a. plate 37 secured to theinside of the front wallof the cabinet H. The plates 36 and 3? arepivotally secured together by means of a pin 39. A stop pin 40, carriedby the plate 35, is movable in an arcuate slot l! of the plate 31. Aspring 43, disposed about the pin, has one leg bearing against the frontwall of the cabinet and another leg bearing against the stop pin 59 andis effective to urge the door to an open position when the latchingmeans, to be described hereinafter, is released.

The door is opened by means of a lever 45 (Figure 2), which is pivotallymounted on a pin 46 disposed in a bracket 47 secured to the inclinedwall portion ll of the casing. The lever 45 is actuated by a push-button49 projecting through an opening 6 in the wall portion IT. A spring 5!is disposed about the pin t6 and has one leg abutting the inner wallofthe cabinet and the other leg abutting a'fiange portion 15a of thelever 35 tending to. urge the lever clockwise to move the push-button 39to its initial position.

A second lever 53 is pivotally mounted on a pin as which is secured inan angle member 55 mounted onth'e'casing. Whenthe lever i5 is pivotedcounterclockwise upon the pin it by means of 'the' push-button 59, thelever 53 is urged in a clockwise direction about the pivot pin 54 forcontacting a dog 5? which is pivotally mounted on a pin 58 secured tothe angle. member 55. As the dog 57 rotates counterclockwise about thepivot pin' 53, its lower end moves out of contact with an abutment armtil projecting above the upper end of the door 25. A spring 6i, havingone leg abutting the flange of the angle member 55 and another legtending to urge the dog 51 in a clockwise direction, resists thepivoting action of the lever 53. When the door is closed, the spring 6!moves the dog 5? to a latching position and, through the linkages 53 and45, help the spring 5! to urge the push-button 49 toward its initialposition.

When the door of the drier is open for insertion or removal of clothestherefrom, it is desirable that the drum stop rotating and that thetiming cycle be temporarily interrupted. To obtain this effect, a,control switch assembly 63 (Figure 9) is mounted on the inner side ofthe front wall of the drier. This control switch has various leads andswitch elements incorporated therein which are arranged for connectionin a control circuit which will be described hereinafter. As is seen inFigure 9, one of the hinge assemblies 35 carries a pin 64 around which aspring 65 is disposed. One leg of the spring 65 abuts the stop pin 48while the other leg bears against a pivoting lever 51 which is arrangedto control the operation of the switch 63. Thus, it is seen, in dottedlines in Figure 9, that when the door is moved to an open position, theswitch is urged by a spring (not shown) in the switch assembly S3 to acircuit-breaking position. When the door is closed, the spring 65contacts the lever 6'? and moves the contacts of the switch 63 to aclosed position.

Referring to Figure 2, it is seen that a drum 59 is mounted inside ofthe casing It for rotation about a horizontal axis. This drum is ofgenerally cylindrical shape having a, front wall it with an opening Htherein defined by an outturned ledge portion into which the flangeportion 23 of the front wall telescopes. The rear wall 27 of the door 25also, in its closed position, extends into the opening H. A plurality ofradially extending vanes '53 extends longitudinally along the inner wallof the drum 69. These vanes contact the clothes in the drier and raisethem along the side of the drierv and then drop them down the centercausing a tumbling action of the clothes. The drum is mounted on aspider assembly 15 which includes three arm members 5.5a that eX- tendradially outwardly from a hub it in which they are secured and have bentouter end portions 71 secured as by. rivets 78; to the wall of the drum.The hub it, carrying the three arms 75a, is secured as by a key to ashaft sewhich is journaled in a bearing sleeve 8;] disposed atthe upperend of a support pedestal 82. At one end, the shaft 69 is keyed to apulley 84 which is driven through a -belt 8 5 in manner to be describedhereinafter.

The support pedestal 82 comprises elongated upstanding plates 85 whichare of generally rectangular configuration and are secured together todefine a box-like support structure. This support structure may besecured in any siutable manner to the bottom wall It of the driercasing, as by foot members 86a.

A substantially circular disk 88 is secured, as by welding, to the rearportions of the three arms 75a to form the relatively small rear wallfor the drum. The disk ilficooperates with the casing of the drum todefine a large annular opening extending around the disk. A screenmember 9| is disposed over this annular opening being secured thereon byany suitable means as by clips 92.

This large annular opening covered by the screen Si is, of course, usedto introduce heated air to the drum and to withdraw air therefrom.

A cup-like shield 94 is secured to the disk 89 forming a protectionmember over the hub 16 to prevent clothes from being wound on the hub16.

The pulley fid isdriven by a V-belt 85 from a small pulley 95 which isintegrally formed on the hub portion of a large pulley 9E and is freelyjournaled on a shaft 9?. The shaft 9'! is secured to a bracket 98 whichis supported from the support pedestalBZ.

In this invention, the air which is circulated through the drum isdirected into the drum through the large annularopening in the rear wallthereof. It is, therefore, advantageous to seal the peripheral edges of.the drum in order that no cool air or unheated air which is in thecasing around the drum be allowed to pass into the drum around the edgesthereof. To effect this sealing action, there is provided. a bulkheadIGEHFigures 2 and'3) from the base of the cabinet to substantially theupper end of the drum having.

but is slightly larger than the diameter of the drum. A band IIlI issecured to the rearmost edge of the side wall of the drum and has a rearportion projecting longitudinally away from the drum for close contactagainst the bulkhead I00. Thus, a substantial seal is effected aroundthe periphery of the drum. Any air which is introduced into the drummust, therefore, be directed through the bulkhead first.

To promote circulation of air through the drum and to cause therecirculation of air into the drum, there is mounted on the rear face ofthe bulkhead I05] a blower I05 (Figure 3). This blower draws air out ofthe drum through an opening I66 in the bulkhead. A substantiallyrectangular duct I01 is secured to the back of the bulkhead enclosingthe blower I05. This duct has a substantially arcuate configurationconforming to the configuration of the upper portion of the bulkhead. Atthe upper end of the duct III'I, a discharge flue I08 extends outwardlythrough the rear wall of the cabinet to permit a portion of therecirculated air to escape through the flue. As best seen in Figures 3and 8, a scooplike member W9 extends substantially across the duct It?for intercepting a portion of the air and directing it outwardly throughthe flue I08.

Another portion of the air passes around the end of the scoop I68 and isdirected by means of a baffle IIG through an opening III in the bulkheadIIlIl which leads to the drum.

The blower m5 has a shaft H3 which is rotated by means of a pulley H4through a V-belt drive I I5. The pulley I I4 is keyed to the shaft ofthe motor Q8.

As seen in Figure 1, air enters the casing of the drier through a seriesof louvers H6 disposed in the lower portion of the rear wall of thedrier. To support a conduit for heated air, there is provided a U-shapedsupport plate including a pair of spaced walls H9 and IE which extendfrom the vicinity of the top of the drier casing to the lower wall I6and are secured thereto as by welding or riveting foot portions I2Ithereon. The side walls I I9 and I26 are joined by a rear wall I22 whichhas an opening I23 therein. A fragmentary cylindrical cover H3 issecured to the U-shaped support plate opposite the opening I23. Abent-up lip I25, Figure '7, of the wall I22 is di posed across the topof the cover H8. The U- shaped support plate has flanges I25 (Figurewelded to the bulkhead IE8. A pair of plates I26 are spaced from theside walls H9 and I and, together with the cover H8, define a heated airconduit.

The air in passing upwardly through this conduit passes over anelectrical heating element I30 which is mounted therein. The electricalheating element I3!) is wound between a plurality Of spools I3I whichare secured about spacer rings I 32. Vertical rods I33, I33a, and I331)are welded to the spacer rings I32 and thus hold these rings in spacedrelation and provide a unitary electric heating element. This heatingelement may have leads I35 and lit for connection to a source ofcurrent.

The rod Isila is larger than the other two rods and extends below theheating element assembly proper and has a foot portion I38 which issecured to a bracket I lil supported from the bulkhead wall. At itsupper end, the rod I33a has an ofiset portion which projects through asecond bracket I42 which is also secured on the bulkhead IIIB. Thus, theelectrical heating element I30 has a unitary structure mounted in asubstantially vertical position on brackets extending from the rear wallof the bulkhead I69.

The bu khead I60 is provided with an opening I45 directly adjacent theheating element I39 so that the clothes in the drum may be dried byradiant heat directly emanating from the unit In order to preventscorching of the clothes by this direct radiant heat when the drum isidle and the clothes are no longer tumbling, there is provided arotatable shield I46 which has, as best seen in Figures 5 and 6, asubstantially semicylindrical form. At its upper end, the shield I46 hasa closure plate I I'I secured thereto and at its lower end, a plate I48is secured across the shield and has central opening I56 into which issecured 2. depending rod I5] (Figure l), which is slidably journaled inan aperture in the support bracket I40. The upper closure plate IE1carries a twister element I52 which has a twisted blade portionextending through a slot in the bracket I42.

ince the shield I46 is provided with a twister element I52 at its upperend, it will be readily recognized that raising and lowering of theshield will cause a rotating movement thereof about an axis defined bythe rod IEI. To impart upward movement to the shield I46, there isprovided a bell crank I54 (Figure 4) which is pivotally mounted on a pinI55 and has one arm arranged to be actuated by a solenoid-operatedcontrol mechanism I51 through a spring element IE3 and the other armapertured to receive the lower end of the rod I5I. The spring elementI58 is sufficiently heavy to pivot the bell crank upon actuation of thesolenoid-operated control mechanism I51 and yields when the shield M6 isat the extreme ends of its paths of travel, to serve as a cushioningelement and to reduce noise in the operation of said shield.

In Figures 1 and 6, the shield Ice is shown in its upper position withthe shield disposed on the rear side of the heating element I30permitting radiant heat from the element to pass into the drum. When thesolenoid in the switch i5? is deenergized, the shield drops by gravityand the twister arm I52 will cause the shield I 55 to be rotatedcounterclockwise, as seen in Figure 6, to the dotted position. In thisposition, it is seen that more than half of the opening I45 in thebulkhead Iflil is cut oif from the radiant heating eifect of the elementI39.

As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the upper end of the wall I22 provides anupper end portion of the conduit and has a fiat flange I24 which closesthe upper portion of the conduit above the fragmental circular shieldmember H8. Thus, air passing upwardly through the conduit III will passover the heating element I30 and continue in its upward passage into theupper duct defined by the wall I22 and the bulkhead IElIl. It is to benoted that the wall I22 is Offset from the outer wall of the duct I91.However, the two passages merge so that air passing upconduitwill bedirected through the opening III (Figure 8) which leads through thebulkhead and into the drier. Thus, heated air is also directed into thedrum at an upper peripheral portion of the rear walls thereof.

It is, of course, obvious that some heated air will pass through theopening I45 directly in front of the heating element I39.

The energization and control circuit of the drier will be bestunderstood by reference to Figure 10 of the drawings. As is well knownto those skilled in the art, it is highly desirable to energize theheating coils of the unit from a relatively high voltage source, butit'is also desirab e to have the control elements energized from arelatively low voltage source. This may be conveniently had forhousehold use through a conventional three-wire, single-phase powersupply as usually furnished by the public utility companies, and soarranged that either 220 volts or 110 volts may be obtained.

As shown in Figure 10, the conventional power supply is indicated by thepower supply conductors I35, I36 and I59, the latter being the groundedneutral of the system. It will thus be understood that there is a220-volt drop between power supply conductors I35 and I36 but only allIl-volt drop between theconductor I35 and the grounded centerconductor I59, and 110 volts between the conductor I36 and the groundedcenter conductor I 59.

In addition t the main driving motor 66, an auxiliary timer mo tor I66is provided which has associated therewith two timer switches I6I andI62. Even though only diagrammatically illustrated, it is to'beunderstood that the switches I6I and I62 are closed when the timer isadjusted for initiation of its timing operation and are :furtherarranged so that they will open at predetermined later times. The switchI6I is further arranged so that it will remain closed for apredetermined period of time after the switch I62 opens for a reasonwhich will be presently apparent.

A-thermostat I63 is provided inside of the withdrawal duct It! so thatit is sensitive to the temperature of the air being withdrawn from "theclothes drum. This thermostat member is arranged to be adjustably set toopen and-close at some predetermined desired temperature level to whichthe clothes are to 'be dried.

Referring again-to Figure 10, the heating coil I36 is connected acrossconductors I35 and I36 through timer switch I6I and I62, thermostaticswitch I63, and relay switch I67. It will thus be-apparent that theheating coil I 36 is energized from a 220-volt supply.

The main motor 93 is energized through timer switch I6I,-a. motorsafetyswitch I66 and door switch 63 through its stationary contact I65and its movable contact I66. It will thus be apparent that the maindrive motor is connected across conductors I35 and I 59 to be energizedfrom a 110-vo1t supply. The timer motor I66 is connected in parallelwith the main motor 38 and is thus connected from conductor I35 throughtimer switch I6I and door switch 63 to conductor I59.

The relay or solenoid-operated control member I51 is connected acrossconductors I35 and I59 through timer switch I6I, motor switch 163, ahigh temperature safety switch I68 and door switch 63. The safety switchI63 may be heat operated bi-metal switch located at the top of the ductI61; as shown in Figure 3, and is set to operate at a higher temperaturethan the temperatureat which the main thermostatic switch I63 operates,to open the circuit to the heating coil I'36-where the switch I63 mayfail to open. It will thus be apparent that whenever the timer isadjusted to initiate a timing cycle and the door switch 63 is closed,the relay or solenoidoperated control member I? is energized, thusmaintaining its associatedrelay switchl 6'! closed,

.aswell-as rocking-the bell prank member I 64 so as to hold the shieldI46 in its retracted or nonshielding position.

During normal cyclic operation of the drier, the thermostatic switch I63will open and close to maintain a preselected desired temperature withinthe drying drum 69. It will be observed that this in no way effects theoperation of either the main driving motor 93 or the timer motor I66.

If, for any reason, the main thermostatic switch I63 fails to open, orif the temperature within the drying drum 69 rises above a predeterminedsafe temperature for the clothes, the safety switch I68 will open todeenergize the circuit of the heating coil I36 and to permit rotationalmovement of the shield I46 by movement of the bell crank I56 in aclockwise direction. This removes the heat from the drum and shields theheating coil I36 from radiating any heat directly to the clothes. Themain motor 93 and the timer motor I66 remain energized due to the factthat the timer switch I6I and .the door switch 63 are still closed.

A further safety provision is provided through the motor switch I66 toshut off operation of the machine in the event the motor becomesoverheated. The motor switch I64 may be a bimetal heat operated switchlocated at the base of the machine adjacent the motor 98 (not shown). Inthis event, the motor safety switch I64 opens which deenergizes therelay I 51 to open the relay switch I61 of the heating coil circuit. Itwill also deenergize the main motor 96. The shield I36 will thus rockinto its shielding position with an opening of the motor safety switch.

From the above, it will be observed that it is in position to stopthemain motor 98 without immediately rotating the shield into itsprotecting position and also deenergize the heating coil I36.

The door switch 63 is of the single-pole, double-throw type and is soarranged that when the door is opened the movable contact element I66closes against the lower stationary contact I 66 to energize the lampI70 across the other low voltage line circuit. This light I10 issuitably mounted adjacent a window I'II in the bulkhead and providesillumination for the interior of the drum so as .to facilitate theinsertionand removal of clothes.

In operating the machine, the main thermostatic switch I63 may be set tothe desired temperature under control of a control knob I72,

I shown in Figure 11 as being located on the outside of the inclinedsurface I! of the top panel of the drier casing I6. The timer motor I60may also be set to operate for the desired. time interval, undercontrolof aknob I-I3 on the inclined surface I! of the top panel I5. Thecontrolling connections from the knobs Ill and I13 to the thermostaticswitch I63 and the timer motor I60 may be of any forms we l known tothose skilled in the art and are not herein shown or described, sincethey-form no part of my invention.

When the thermostatic switch I63 is set ,to the required temperature andthe timer motorIEI) is set to operate for the desired time interval, andthe drier drum 69 is' filled with clothes, the door lit-may then beclosed to close the door switch63 through the contact I65. The timerbeing set, the switches I6I and I62 will close. ,A circuit will then becompleted to the timer motor IBIland main motor 96 through the conductorI35 timer operated switch I.6I safety switch I64 forthemain motor, andto thereturn through the door switch 63 and conductor I59. At the sametime the heating coil I30 will be energized through the timer switches IBI and IE2, the thermostatically operated switch I63 and to the returnthrough the relay switch I61 and conductor I 36. The solenoid or therelay switch I5? will be energized to close said switch through theternperature control safety switch I68, herein shown as being connectedin parallel with the motor 98.

Thus, assuming the thermostatically operated switch I83 and timer motorare properly adjusted, as soon as the drier door is closed the motor 98will be rotatably driven to drive the drier drum and the timer motor I68will rotate to control the cycle of operation of the drier, and theheating coil I39 will be energized.

Upon the completion of the drying cycle the timer switch I62 will firstopen to break the circuit to the heating coil I39 due to the delayedtiming of the opening of the switch lei, and allow the drier drum tocool while still being rotated by the main motor 93. The timer operatedswitch Iiii will then open and disconnect the circuit to the timer motorI 63 and main motor 98. If the door should be opened at any time, thedoor switch 83 will open the circuit through the contact I65,disconnecting the motors i353 and 93 from the main line circuit and alsoole-energizing the solenoid to the relay Iii'I, causing said relay toopen. A circuit will also be completed through the contact IE9 to lightthe light no.

If at any time, the thermostatic switch I 63 should open due toexcessive temperatures within the drier drum, the heating coil I39 willbe disconnected from the circuit, but the main motor 98 and the timermotor I fill will continue to rotate, rotating the drier drum andcirculating air therethrough, preventing overheating or burning of theclothes.

If the thermostatically operated switch I 63 should fail to operate inresponse to excessive temperatures, the safety switch I '58 will thenopen, breaking the circuit to the solenoid and opening the relay I61 todisconnect the heating coil I39 from the circuit.

In a like manner, if at any time the main motor 88 should stop due tooverheating, the safety switch I64 will open, disconnecting said motorfrom the circuit and also de-energizing the solenoid to the relay I67,causing said relay to open and disconnect the heating coil I36 from thecircuit.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention economical and efficient clothes drier for household use, asWell as other similar purposes, and at the same time, provides a maximumdegree of safety both for the operator of the machine and for theclothes or other articles being dried.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housing andhavin an opening at one end, a heating element mounted in said housingadjacent said opening and a shield extending along said heating elementin position to normally deflect heat trough said opening and mounted forpivotal movement to a position between said heating element and saidopening.

2. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housing andhaving an opening at one end, a heating element mounted in said housingadjacent said opening, a shield mounted in said housing for pivotal andvertical slidable movement and extending along said heating eleprovidesan extremely id I ment, means holding said shield in position tonormally deflect heat through said opening, and means releasing saidholding means to allow said shield to move by gravity to a positionbetween said heating element and said opening.

3. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housing andhaving an opening at one end, a heating element mounted in said housingadjacent said opening, a shield extending along said heating element inposition to normally deflect heat through said opening and being mountedfor pivotal movement to a position between said heating element and saidopening, means holding said shield in position to deflect heat throughsaid opening and means for holding said holding means in a holdingposition and operable to release said holding means to allow said shieldto move in response to a temperature rise above a predetermined level insaid drum.

l. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housing andhaving an opening at one end, a heating element mounted in said housingadjacent said opening, a shield extending along said heating element inposition to normally deflect heat therefrom into said opening andmounted for vertical and rotatable movement to a position between saidheating element and said opening by gravity, means holding said shieldin an elevated position including a sol noid and means responsive to thestoppage of said drum to break the circuit to said solenoid and releasesaid holding means and allow said shield to drop and pivotally move intoposition between said heating element and said opening and to deenergizesaid heating element.

5. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drying drum rotatably mounted insaid housing and having an opening at one end thereof, spaced projectingplate members on said housing, a shield mounted in said plate membersadjacent the opening in said drum for vertical and rotational movementwith respect thereto, one of said plate members having a slot therein, aflat member uniformly twisted about the axis of said shield secured tosaid shield and projecting through said slot, a heating element in saidhousing adjacent said drum, means for moving said shield vertically inone direction and causing said twister element to rotate said shieldinto a position between said heating element and the opening in saiddrum, and means for vertically moving said shield in another directionto cause said twister element to rotate said shield to initialunshielding position.

6. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housinghaving an annular openin at one end, a bulkhead disposed in said housingadjacent the rear wall of said drum sealin said end of said drum fromthe interior of the housing, said bulkhead having a plurality ofopenings therein, a heater mounted in said housing immediately adjacenta first opening in said bulkhead fo heating the clothes in said drumdirectly by radiation from the heater, a shield mounted in said housingfor movement in one direction into position to deflect heat from saidheater through an opening in said bulkhead and in another direction intoposition to shield clothes from said heater and means energized by thecircuit for driving said drum for moving said shield into one positionand releasin said shield to move into another position by gravitybetween said bulkhead and said heater for shielding the clothes from theradiant heat of said heater when the drum is not rotating.

7. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housinghaving an annular opening at one end of sufficient cross-sectional areafor the circulation of sufficient air into and out of said drum toeffect drying, a bulkhead disposed substantially vertically in saidhousing having a plurality of openings in communication with theinterior of the drum through said annular opening, a heater mounted insaid housing immediately adjacent a first opening in said bulkhead forheating the clothes in the drum by radiation, a conduit disposedsubstantially vertically in said housing around said heater element andin communication at an upper end portion thereof and in communicationwith a second opening in said bulkhead for directing air heated bycontact with the heater into said drum.

8. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum mounted in said housing forrotation about a horizontal axis having an annular opening at one endthereof of sufficient cross-sectional area for the circulation ofsuificient air into and out of said drum to effect drying, a bulkheaddisposed substantially vertically in said housing adjacent said annularopening having a plurality of openings therein in communication with theinterior of said drum through said annular opening, an electricalheating element mounted in said housing immediately adjacent a firstopening in said bulkhead for heatin the clothes in said drum directly byradiation from the heating element, a blower mounted on said bulkheadhaving its suction side disposed in communication with a second of saidopenings, and a duct connecting the pressure side of the blower to athird openin in said bulkhead.

9. In a clothes drier, a housing having a front wall having a clothesreceiving opening therein and a door sealing said opening when closed, acylindrical drum rotatably journaled in said housing having animperforate periphery and having a front wall adjacent the front Wall ofsaid housing with a clothes receiving opening therein registering withsaid door, and a perforate rear wall for the circulation of drying airthrough said drum, a bulkhead adjacent and extending parallel to saidrear wall, means sealing said bulkhead with said drum adjacent theperiphery thereof, said bulkhead having a plurality of openings thereinin communication with said drum through said rear wall, heating meanswithin said housing, an air duct connecting said heating means with oneof said openings in said bulkhead, a blower associated with the other ofsaid openings and drawing air into and withdrawing air from said drum,and an air duct leading from said blower to the outside of said housing.

10. In a clothes drier, a housing having a front wall having a clothesreceiving opening therein, a door sealing said opening when closed, adrum rotatably journaled'in said housing, said drum having animperforate periphery, a front wall confronting the front wall of saidhousing and having a clothes receiving opening therein registering withsaid door, and a rear Wall having an imperforate central portion forminga support means for said drum, and an annular drying air circulationopening on the outside of said imperforate central portion of said rearwall and extending to a position adjacent the periphery of said drum,and forming a greater portion of the area of said wall, a partitionmounted within said housing and confronting the rear wall of said drumand forming a bulkhead having a plurality of openings therein incommunication with said annular opening in said rear Wall of said drum,

for establishing a circulation of air into and out of said drum, meanssealing said bulkhead and said rear wall of said drum on the outside ofsaid annular opening, heating means communicating with one of saidopenings in said bulkhead, suction means communicating with another ofsaid openings in said bulkhead, and an air duct leading from saidsuction means to the outside of said housing and directing the airdischarged from said drum to the atmosphere.

11. In a clothes drier having a drying drum mounted for rotation in ahousing and having an air circulating opening at one end thereof, aheater element disposed close to said air circulating opening, a shieldextending along said heater element in position to normally deflect heatthrough said opening into said drum and mounmd in said housing forslidable and rotary movement from an elevated heat deflecting positionto a lower position between said heating element and said opening, auniformly twisted flat twister member twisted about the axis of rotationof said shield and slidably connecting said shield to said housing andimparting rotary movement to said shield upon vertical movement thereof,and a vertically movable member connected with said shield, for movingsaid shield vertically and causing said twister member to rotate saidshield upon vertical movement thereof.

12. A drier comprising a housing having a drum mounted therein forrotation about a horizontal axis, said drum having a loading opening atthe forward end thereof and having a rear wall having an annular aircirculating opening therein of an area large enough to circulatesuflicient air through said drum to elfect drying, a bulkhead disposedsubstantially vertically in said housing adjacent the rear wall of saiddrum and forming a bearing support therefor, a sealing member connectedbetween said drum and bulkhead outside of the limits of said annular aircirculating opening, for sealing said rear wall of said drum from theinterior of said housing, said bulkhead having a plurality of openingstherein in communication with the interior of said drum through saidannular opening, a heater mounted in said housing immediately adjacentone of said openings in said bulkhead for heating the clothes in saiddrum directly by radiation from the heater, and adischarge duct leading,from another opening of said bulkhead and having a blower thereinoperable to withdraw air from said drum.

13. A drier comprising a housing having a drum mounted therein forrotation about a horizontal axis, said drum having a loading opening atthe forward end thereof and having a rear wall having an annular aircirculating opening therein of sufiicient area for the circulation ofsufiicient air through said drum to effect drying, a bulkhead disposedsubstantially vertically in said housing adjacent the rear wall of saiddrum, means interposed between said drum and said bulkhead outside ofsaid annular air circulating opening for sealing said rear wall from theinterior of said housing, said bulkhead having a plurality of openingsregistering with said annular opening for communication with theinterior of the drum, a heater mounted in said housing immediatelyadjacent one of said openings in said bulkhead for heating the clothesin said drum directly by radiation from the heater, and a rotatableshield extending along said heater and journalled in said housing forrotation about a substantially vertical axis, and means controlled byrotation of said drum for moving said shield in position 13 to radiateheat through said bulkhead and annular opening and into position betweensaid heater and said bulkhead for shielding the clothes in the drum fromthe radiant heat from said heater when said drum is not rotating.

14. In a clothes drier, a housing, a drum rotatable in said housing andhaving an annular opening at one end thereof of sufiicient area for thecirculation of sufficient air through said drum to efiect drying, avertical bulkhead in said hous ing confronting said annular opening, asealing member on said drum having sealing engagement with said bulkheadoutside of the limits of said annular opening for sealing said drum fromthe interior of said housing, said bulkhead having a plurality ofopenings therein in communication with the interior of said drum throughsaid annular opening, a discharge duct leading from one of said openingsin said bulkhead and having a blower therein operable to withdraw airfrom said drum, a heater mounted in said housing immediately adjacentanother of said openings in said bulkhead for heating the clothes insaid drum directly by radiation from the heater, and said blower drawingair past said heater into said drum through a third opening in saidbulkhead.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF. HAROLD E. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,358,599 White Nov. 9, 19201,398,114 Prell Nov. 22, 1921 1,488,198 Dewey Mar, 25, 1924 1,607,418Wheeler Nov. 16, 1926 1,751,754 Overshiner Mar. 25, 1930 1,802,407Danninger et al. Apr. 28, 1931 2,328,256 Breckenbridge Aug. 31, 19432,397,091 Davis Mar. 26, 1946 2,434,476 Wales Jan. 13, 1948 2,503,329Geldhof et a1 Apr. 11, 1950

